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'Jack Reacher' Trailer & Images: Tom Cruise is Not a Hero [Updated]

Jack Reacher is based on Lee Child's novel One Shot, featuring the title character - an ex-Army cop, who's since become a drifter. The decision to cast Tom Cruise as Reacher has prompted much debate among fans. It's been brought up before (ad nauseum), but, as clarification for those new to the discussion: Child describes Reacher as a force of nature, whose physical attributes (think someone who looks like Dolph Lundgren, or an older version of Chris Hemsworth) define everything from his attitude to his behavior towards the world.

Today, we have a teaser trailer for Jack Reacher that could pull double-duty by changing fans' opinions about the casting of Cruise - and, get everyone else excited to see what could be the first installment in a new action movie franchise (featuring the A-lister).

... To be honest, though, this writer isn't sure how the Jack Reacher teaser will go over with the moviegoing masses, and has a feeling that general reactions could fall along the following lines:

For those not familiar with the titular anti-hero: the trailer creates the impression that Cruise is playing a variation on Ryan Gosling's Driver from Drive; albeit, one whose rough exterior and manner makes his outbursts of rage - and dangerous nature - more predictable and less shocking (in my opinion, of course).

For those who ARE familiar with the titular anti-hero: the trailer suggests that Cruise is just playing a darker version of Ethan Hunt from Mission: Impossible - or a less-coiled version of Vincent from Collateral - rather than offering an intriguing interpretation of the Reacher character.

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In all fairness, though, the teaser doesn't show that much of Cruise as Reacher; by comparison, the recent Alex Cross trailer provided a much better sampling of Tyler Perry's take on that film's titular protagonist. Furthermore, Jacker Reacher was written and directed by Oscar-winner Christopher McQuarrie, who's well-renowned for his ability to craft sharp, hard-edged dialogue and crime stories (see: The Usual Suspects and Way of the Gun). So, a green-band teaser might not do justice to either the film or Cruise's performance.

Not to mention: the supporting cast of Jack Reacher (including Rosamund Pike, David Oyelowo, Jai Courtney, and Werner Herzog) reads as quite promising. We'll have to wait for a full-length Jacker Reacher trailer to see what they bring to the latest Cruise show, though.

Jack Reacher opens in theaters around the U.S. on December 21st, 2012.